Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-03-26


them stand. Fidget to and fro from your
desk. Let them know you are in hurry,
although courteous, Gnd get rid of 'em
quick"
"Cedar comfy" mused Brooks. II
don't know anybody up here likely to be
in this delegation Chug, you look good
deal like me. You may receive these
peple and act as Governor.
''No, thank you!" said /, boiling to my
desk and catching up my pen.
"Hallo?" cried Brooks, with slow sar.
casm, ''you can brag, but not perform,
eh2"
THIS Llunt reply stung me. It was
quite unlike the Brooks of my school
days. / used to pride myself on superior
force. 1t would never do TO let him find
me lacking nerve, or my old ascendency
would vanish wholly. So promptly rose
again.
'Why, can receive the delegation If
you really want me to Brooks, but"
"All right, Chug, YOU may receive
them. Treat them well. That will give
me time to go over this paper, and 1muss
do it before noon."
was somewhat agitated. To confront
these fellows face to face grew every in
slant lnOre disagreeable to me. For two
years had rusted in the mines. Proba-
bly, this delegation contained preachers,
lawyers. practiccd spoliesmen, to answer
whom would require more than mere au.
dacity. But Harold stood looking 0s
perplexed, and Brooks himself was peer
ing up from his papers with a covert
smile. put bold face on it.
"Here, Harold, help me put these
chairs in the private ROOM" And Iseized
on arm chair in each hand.
Harold looked at Brooks with aston
ishmcnt and protest.
"You will need the chains, of course, :"
he said.
"No, I'll make 'em stand. I'll soon
get rid of the prison delegation, l cried
emphatically. Brooks nodded, and Har-
old unwillingly joined in removing every
chair to the inner apartment, save the
ones which Brooks and had occupied.
Now bring EN-" said l, and while
Harold was gone l threw off my coat.
united my neck-band, put my watch in
open sight upon the desk, and took a
pen, freshly dipped in ink.
"I'll let these fellows know that time
is precious | said decisively, looking
down at Brooks.
The door opening from the ante-room
swung on its hinges. Harold appeared
upon the threshold. He gave look OF
dismay as he saw me in my shirt-sleeves,
hut 7 Oh or1 Er,,, Th0ro xuac u
rustling of silks, a prophetic fragrance,
soft murmuring voices. and then hevy
of ladies flowed suddenly into the
room. / stared dumbfoundcd.
"Grcat -! er- ladies
l dropped my pen, sprang to my coat,
and plunged my AIMS frenziedly into the
sleeves
"Excusc me, ladies, i, had for
gotten the -, the sex of your delega-
tion -, it is such hot day -"
furnblcd my necktie. The horrible
fear came over that had failed to comb
my hair that morning. Mother accused
me of rank neglect since my return from
Colorado. But caught sight of dis
tracted phantom in the mirror; happily,
nv hair, though somewhat browsy, bore
suggestions of combing.
"Governor," said Harold gravely, "Lei
me introduce Mrs. Minor, the head c:
the delegation"
Now ought to have bowed in state
" way and said: MADAME, / am happy
to meet you and to find that prison re-
form enlists advocates at once so fair and
capable"
But did not say this. l observed that
Mrs. Minor was tall, matronly lady,
with gray hair, Roman features and pale
complexion, very stylishly dressed in
black, with white lace about her throat
and wrists. | observed that her compan-
ions were mostly elderly, well-brcd, taste
fully attired, self-possessed and eminently
ladyl;ke. At the rear were some younger
women, notably one brunette, with flash
ing black eyes, wearing broad-brimmed
hat. with rich red plume and brocaded
lark red velvet dress, with profusion of
-ibbons. She looked demurely over the
shoulders of her companions directly into
my eyes, and l, but just returned from
such long exile, unused to feminine
proximity, was instantly bereft Of all
senses.
/ stood irresolue. Mrs. Minor also
stood moment hesitating. Then as
made halting movement forward she
held out her gloved hand, which shook
awkwardly.
"We ought to be old friends" said l.,
glancing at Brooks, who buried his head
in documents, while his chair shook sus-
piciously, "for l was miner myself un-
tip
The appalling reflection that in my i'm
personation as Governor all reference to
my Colorado experience was out of place,
now tripped the remark ] added, to
complete the sentence: "Until l became
of age"
Brooks glanced up with agony in his
face, look which conjured me whatever
else did by all the gods not to profane
his identity through such abhorrent
puns.
Mrs. Minor introduced her companions
to me. /" Mrs. Griffin, Miss Mink, Mrs.
Qualter;" and she went through the
group, standing a little aside so as to
keep the ladies and myself in our re-
spective places. l felt perspiration
trickle over my brow as bowed to Miss
Mulwine, the brunette, who was the last